Mobile TV in Kenya received a shot in the arm when mobile network operator Safaricom concluded a partnership with DStv to offer subscribers satellite TV on their 3G-enabled handsets.
The new agreement is a step up from the first partnership, three years ago, that allowed subscribers to access selected channels on the DStv channel through specific handsets, limiting the number of people accessing the service.
With the opening up of mobile TV to 3G-enabled handsets, 800 000 of Safaricom's 14 million subscribers will now be able to view a variety of channels using their 3G handsets.
A few subscribers of other mobile networks, including Airtel, Yu and Orange Kenya, will continue to enjoy limited DStv channels on Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H)-enabled cellphones, but only in Nairobi and Mombasa. This is because these mobile operators have not rolled out 3G infrastructure, which Safaricom has deployed across all major towns in the country.
Kenya is one of the few countries on the continent to have adopted DVB-H technology that allows for the live transmission of television channels to a mobile handset through digital terrestrial broadcast. Apart from Kenya, DStv Mobile is available in SA, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana and Namibia.
Speaking at the signing of the agreement, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said the strategic partnership will be instrumental in offering subscribers a rich menu of content on their mobile phones.
“It is also at one with our strategy of improving the utility of a handset on our network, besides actively promoting data inclusivity in Kenya,” said Collymore.
The mobile operator has been pushing for a faster uptake of data in the face of falling revenue from voice due to intense competition. Safaricom grew its mobile data by 85% last year, indicating subscriber appetite for mobile data.
A recent study by mobile browser Opera showed Kenya has the most intensive mobile Internet user community in Africa, with each user browsing an average of 525 pages per month.
For a flat fee of Sh250 (R25), Safaricom subscribers can stream 16 channels to their phones, while DVB-H networks have access to 15 channels, including local stations.
The mobile service by DStv, which has been free since its inception in 2007, will be commercially available from this week to Safaricom, Airtel and Yu subscribers. A free-to-view package will still be available for subscribers, with only two of the three packages being commercial.
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